The poor play by Fielder, Lamont and Peralta cost the Tigers something very important: THE LEAD. And that is something that the Detroit Tigers, at that point down 1-0 and soon to be down 2-0 after that play, desperately needed.

The Detroit Tigers survived a tense trip back to Bronx, with Jose Valverde and the bullpen holding on time and time again to beat the New York Yankees 3-2 Thursday night to win the deciding Game 5 of their AL playoff series.

Justin Verlander struck out 11 in eight gritty innings and Jose Valverde stopped a New York Yankees rally for the second straight night, whiffing Derek Jeter with two on to close out the Detroit Tigers’ 5-4 victory Monday.